2024 Audi A8

Overview

A stealth fighter in a sea of high-profile full-size luxury sedans, the Audi A8’s conservative yet confident personality and style are a virtue. Interior accommodations are as spacious and comfortable as its longtime sparring partners, the BMW 7-series and the Mercedes-Benz S-class, but the appointments and control layout maintain a comparably rational design and appeal. A turbocharged V-6 is the sole engine option, and while it’s not quite as quick as the rivals, its silent operation fits its stealthy mission. Extensive sound deadening measures ensure the interior is equally as hushed, ensuring the driver and passengers arrive at their destination fresh and relaxed. But the A8 is also capable of getting a little frisky when the situation arises, carrying surprising speed through gently winding roads and even dispatching tight bends with a dexterity that belies its size. Buyers seeking sharper reflexes and quicker acceleration are advised to seek out its high-performance S8 sibling, which we review separately.

What’s New for 2024?

Refreshed for 2022, the 2024 Audi A8 slips into the new year with minimal updates. All A8s receive a six-month trial subscription to Audi Connect PLUS with the Audi app store; the software enables remote start from the app and integrates music, video, gaming, navigation, parking & charging, weather, and news applications into the MMI. In the styling department, Sebring Black crystal effect paint replaces Vesuvius Gray metallic.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

If you’re going with Audi’s flagship luxury sedan, do it right and order it with the Comfort Plus package, which includes Dual-pane acoustic glass for side windows that reduce noise, massaging front seats, heated armrests, heated outboard rear seats, a head-up display, and HD Matrix-design LED headlights. It’s also hard to argue with the Black optic plus package that plays into the stealth factor with high gloss black exterior trim, black Audi rings and badges, black brake calipers, and unique 21-inch 10-spoke design wheels. If adaptive cruise control with lane keeping, remote parking and a heated steering wheel are on your wish list you’ll need to check the box for the Executive package.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

A turbocharged 335-horsepower V-6 augmented by a 48-volt hybrid system is the sole engine option. (The sportier S8 rocks a turbocharged V-8 rated for 563 horsepower.) An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. In our hands, the A8 dashed from zero to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, trailing the last six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz S500 we tested by a few tenths. The Audi’s engine is a smooth operator above all, thanks in part to the extensive sound-deadening measures; plus, with all 331 foot-pounds of torque available at a low 1370 rpm, you don’t need to flog the engine in normal driving to extract zippy acceleration. An adjustable air suspension and adaptive dampers are standard and, like all Audi sedans, the A8 is tuned for a brand-specific blend of athleticism and ride comfort that transcends the empirical spec sheet data.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates the A8 returns 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. We haven’t yet subjected an A8 to C/D’s 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, but we did observe 19 mpg in combined city-and-highway driving with a long-wheelbase 2019 A8L we tested earlier. For more information about the A8’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Copious interior space and passenger comfort is non-negotiable in the full-size luxury sedan segment, and the A8’s long wheelbase ensures that front and rear-seat passengers are well accommodated. A traditional five-passenger layout is standard, but an optional four-passenger seating package is available for well-heeled owners who plan to spend the majority of their time in the rear seat with a hired hand at the wheel. It deletes the rear center seating position and provides a pair of power-adjustable rear seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, as well as a heated foot-massage function and a pair of individual entertainment tablets. Just be aware that all that rear seat indulgence reduces the number of power adjustments for the front passenger. Likewise, the 13 cubic-foot trunk capacity is modest for a big luxury sedan. Material quality is high, and there are numerous leather options along with a small forest’s worth of wood inlays to choose from. But much like the A8’s exterior, the interior ambience is a bit sober and not as lavish as that of the Mercedes S-class.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The 2024 A8 Audi carries on with the 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower haptic center screens with the MMI Touch Response system. While most functions are controlled through the touchscreens or steering wheel controls, a traditional volume knob remains in the console, breaking up the otherwise smooth surfaces and providing instantaneous, intuitive access to adjusting the audio level. The dual touchscreens can be intimidating, but the system responds quickly and is highly configurable, allowing owners to choose their own dedicated buttons on the lower screen while offering permanent buttons for navigation, weather, telephone functions, and radio on the left side of the upper screen. Just know that fingerprints adhere easily and can be hard to remove. Up front, there are two USB ports with combined data and charging capability, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone integration are standard, along with Amazon Alexa compatibility. Wi-Fi via Audi Connect Plus is available. Audi’s trademark bright and legible 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster is standard.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The A8 has most of the same driver-assistance technologies as other high-buck sedans. When equipped with Traffic Jam Assist (Executive package), the A8 will help you out with acceleration and braking in heavy traffic, but your hands can’t leave the wheel for more than a few seconds. For more information about the A8’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Though the 2024 A8 is designed to make you feel special, the warranty is just average for the luxury sedan segment. If a long-term warranty is a prerequisite, the Genesis G90 comes standard with up to 10 years or 100,000 miles of warranty coverage and three years of free maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com